brown



E.' C. BROWN.

FOLDING BED.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 6, 19I4.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

@IMM

E. C. BROWN.

FoLmNe BED.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6, 1914.

Patented Oct. 21,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ELIZABETH C. BROWN, OF NEW YQRK, N. Y.

FOLDING BED.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 21, 1919.

Application filed November 6, 1914. Serial No. 870,562.

T0 all whom t may Concern:

Be it known that I, ELIZABETH C'. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of New York, borough ol Manhattan, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Folding Bed, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a folding bed of a substantially new type which, for the sake of convenient reference, I `have termed a tier bed from the fact that a plurality of mattresses or springs are employed in such relation to each other that, when the structure is used to 'full capacity, one mattress or spring is positioned at a proper distance above another mattress or spring.

The bed structure of this invention is unfolded or extended for use in such manner that the area or licor surface occupied *thereby is not increased to any appreciable eX- tent, in `which respect my invent1on is differentiated from prior beds ol well lznown types wherein the bed when unfolded `takes .up substantially twice the space that it occupies when folded.

There are many places, such as in apartments, hotels, marine vessels, ete., where the bed space is too small `to use to advantage the folding bed of the sliding variety because the sliding section when drawn `out et' the other non-sliding element takes up or lcovers a space equal substantially `to that occupied by the non-sliding element. Ininy invention, however, this most seriousobjection dees not prevail, for the reason thatthe sliding member is movable upwardly `from the non-sliding memberwhen the bed is unfolded, so that the floor area roccupied Vby the bed is not increased, but at the same imc the sliding section is capable o'l :tolding into compact relation to the nonfsliding member so that when collapsed the two members present the appearance ot a single bed.

The invention embodies two members each comprising a trame and a spring or mattress, one `member having its frame slidably litted to the frame oii the othermember `for up and down movement relative thereto, that is, the sliding member is movable 1n a :direction at right angles to `the plane .of `the two mattresses or springs,

`Mlith the sliding member is associated, vfirst, a system of counterbalance Aweights avhereby `the labor of raising the `sliding sliding member in its raised ber.

`Other features `and advantages of the invention will appear in the course or' the vtollowing .detailed description.

In the drawings,

Figure l isa side elevation of a folding ,bed embodying my invention, the full lines illustrating the bed in its folded position and dotted lines showing the sliding section ina raised operative position.

Fig. 2 `is a sectional plan view, the plane of theisection bein-g indicated by the .dotted line 2-.2 of Fig. 1.

Fig 3 is `an end elevation with the tu bular `posts of the nonfsliding section and the sliding section in vertical section in or- ;der to illustrate the raising and lowering mechanism and the latch.

Fig. l is an enlarged vertical section through the `parts `of the two bed frames illustrating the operating mechanism, and the Alatch mechanism a little more clearly.

Fig. .5 is an elevation, partly in section,

ofthe tubular tie member forming a part of the lower non-sliding member illustratingin part 4the raising and lowering mechanism, and `in part the latch .mechanism- Fig. 56 is an enlarged detail section on the line 6`6 of Fig. 2.

`Eig. 7 is a vertical section through the telescopic posts of `the two bed sections showing acoimterbalance whereby the operator relieved o'l the weight of the upper section when raising and lowering said upper section.

The two members comprising the bed of .this i-nventionare designated at A, B, re-

spectively, the member A being` normally stationary, whereas `the member B is movable `vertically with respect to said stationary member A.

`Member A `x`embodies a `frame consisting of cornerposts c, `longitudinal rails a', transverse tubular tie bars o2 as connecting the lcorner ostso in ,iairs and a longitudinal J A D tubular tie bar c4, the latter being suitably joined to the transverse tubular tie bars a? at the respective end portions of the bed, all the parts comprising rsaid -bed being substantially united so as to retain their proper relation to each other. The longitudinal side rails a of the stationary bed member A support or carry a .spring diagrammatically in Fig. 6, said spring` being of the usual or any preferred construction and attached in any desired way to side rails a; obviously, the spring may be carried on the lower stationary member A byl devices other than those herein specifically mentioned, and, further, any suitable equivalent of the spring'may be employed for supporting themattress.

The sliding member B consists of a frame embodying corner posts b,.cross bars b connecting the corner posts in pairs, and longitudinal rails b2 rigidly fastened to the corner posts for the purpose of support-ing a wire mattress or spring D, the latter being of any suitable construction and attached in any desired Way to the longitudinal rails 52, whereby a mattress and the usual bed clothing may be carried as a load upon the sliding member B of the folding bed. As shown, the corner posts b of the movable member B are tubular and slotted longitudinally at b4, and, furthermore, the corner posts a of the stationary member A are, also, tubular, whereby the corner post-sv?) of the sliding section B are adapted to slide within the tubular post a of the stationary member A, 4as clearly shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 7 of the drawings. 1t is apparent that the upper member B may be moved downwardly from the raised position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, so that the corner posts b of said member will slide or telescope within the corner posts a of stationary member A, thus folding the bedV so that the members A B thereof will occupy the compact relation shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, `as a result of which the mattress D yof the movable member B will be brought into compact and parallel relation to the mattress C of the stationary member A, as disclosed in Figs. 1 and 6. .1n this connection it will be noted by reference to Fig. 6 that the longitudinal channel rail a of the lower stationary'member A is in telescopic relation to the longitudinal channel rail b2 of the sliding member B, the channel of the rail a being inverted with respect to the channel of the rail Vb2. The cross sectional dimensions of the rail b2 on the upper 'bed section B is less than the similar cross sectional dimensions of the rail a in the lower bed section, and when the upper bed section is folded relative to the lower bed section the lower part of the rail b2 will enter the'upper open'part of the rail a', thus compactly kdisposing the side rails of the two C indicated bed sections. 1n this connection it is desired te state that the rail 52 enters the rail a for the purpose of closing the channel therein, thus excluding dust, dirt, etc., from entering lthe rails when the bed is folded.

For the purpose of raising and lowering the upper vertically movable member B, I employ a suitable hoisting mechanism, the same being supported or carried on the frame of the lower stationary section A and operatively connected with the corner posts Z) of the upper sliding section B. Incased within the tubular longitudinal tie bar a4.

ing end of said shaft E is attached a suit-v able operating means, such as the crank E. Said shaft E is provided, also, with a ratchet e with which engages a pawl c2, the latter being pivoted on the tubular tie bar in a position for engagement with said ratchet, whereby the shaft E may be lield from rotation in one direction. The

. respective end portions of the longitudinal shaft E are provided with bevel gears f f', the bevel gear f being positioned within one tubular tie bar 052 at one end of the bed frame, .whereas the other bevel gear f shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 is within the tubular transverse tie bar a2 at the other end of the bed frame.v Each bevel gear meshes with cooperating bevel gears g g fixed to the adjacent ends of a divided countershaft the members of which are indicated Said parts ofthe countershaft are Journaled in bearings g2 fixed within the tubular tie bar a2., whereby the parts of the couiitershaft are incased within the transverse tubular tie bar a2. One divided countershaft is thus housed within a tie bar at one end of the bed frame, and a similar countershaft is iiicased within the tie bar at the opposite end Vof the bed fram-e, both of said divided countershafts being geared with the longitudinal operating'shaft E. The end portions of the divided countershaft G extend within the tubular posts a forming parts of the lower stationary bed member A, and these shafts are operatively connected with the sliding posts Z) of the upper movable section B of said'bed. Any suitable means may be employed to opera: tively connect these countersliafts with the movable bed section, but as shown more particularly in Figs. 3 and et the cables Hare used for the purpose described. Said. cables are attached to and coiled upon the end portions of the members Gr Gr composing the countershaft, or they may be coiled on drums attached to said shaft members. The cables H extend upwardly from the shafts and pass over pulleys Zz, the latter being journaled or mounted within the tubular posts a, and the cables then extend down from the pulleys Z1, and are fastened in any suitable way to the posts Z) of the sliding bed section B, the attachment of the cables to the posts b being by means of eyes 7L', or other suitable devices. The slots b4 are provided in the posts b of the sliding bed section to allow said posts b to slide within posts a and downwardly with respect to the pulleys h.

It is apparent that the crank E may be rotated by hand for the purpose of turning the shaft E. This shaft imparts motion to the parts G G composing the divided countershafts; said countershafts coil the cables H on themselves for the purpose of pulling up on the posts b so as to raise the bed section B, whereby power is applied to all the corner posts of bed section B for the purpose of raising the latter' equally at all corners thereof. It is apparent that the rotation of the shaft E in one direction will raise the bed section B relative to the section A, but when the shaft is turned in an opposite direction then the bed section B will be lowered toward section A.

.For the purpose of relieving the operator from the burden of lifting the dead weight of the upper section and its load7 means are employed for counterbalancing said upper section, as shown substantially in Fig. 7. In each corner post a is positioned a counterweight I, from the upper part of which extends a cable or chain z' passing over a pulley c journaled or otherwisesupported in the post a, and the free end of this counter-weighted cable is attached by suitable means, such as the `eye 2, to the lower part of the post Z), all as clearly shown in Fig. 7. One of the slots ZJ* in the post?) is slidable relative to the journal of the pulley 2". It is apparent that a counterwei'ght I is employed in each one of the four posts at the respective corners ofthe bed, and that these counterweights I are connected to the posts of the sliding bed section so as to balance the weight thereof. Now when the bed section B is raised the weights are free to descend, whereas the operation of lowering thebed section elevates the weights within the tubular posts.

Vhen the bed section B is raised to its full limit and is to be occupied, it becomes necessary to provide means for locking said bed section B in its raised operative position. Various forms `of locking mechanism may be employed for Aretaining section B in fixed relation to the section A, and in'Figs. 3 and 4 there is shown a form l*of locking mechanism suitable for the purpose in view. Within the tubular cross barsai of the lower stationary section A are positioned slidable latches J J two of said latches being in each cross bar a3. The latch bars J J are movable in opposite directions simultaneously, Vfor which purpose said bars are provided at Vtheir inner ends with rack teeth j, the latter meshing with a pinion 7" on a shaft This shaft is journaled in the tubular cross bar a3, and on one end thereof is a sprocket wheel 7c indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4, with which sprocket wheel engages a sprocket chain Zt" having. engagement with another sprocket wheel 702 on a shaft K. This shaft K is provided at one end with a crank Z, and said shaft extends longitudi-- nally of the tubular tie member a4, the latter being provided with bearings Z for supporting said shaft K. The latch bars J J are provided with enlarged heads m, and these heads are formed with notches m, in which notches are adapted to ht the lower ends of the posts of the sliding bed section B. When the bed section B is raised by the operating mechanism heretofore described, the posts b thereof slide upwardly in the corner posts a and pass the notched ends m of the latches J J. Now when the section B is raised to its full extent the operator turns the shaft K by the cra-nk Z and thus imparts motion to the chains c 7c for` turning the gears y2, the latter imparting movement to the racks and the latch bars so that the notched ends of said latch bars are projected into the posts a, whereupon the bed section B is lowered slightly for the lower ends of the posts b to enter the notches m in the heads of the latch bars. These latch bars thus have interlocking engagement with the posts of the sliding bed section for securely retaining the latter in a fixed relation to the stationary lower section A, thus precluding any tendency of the upper section B to accidentally become released and dropped upon the section A. Prior to lowering the upper section into a compact relation to the lower section, the operator should turn the shaft E slightly for the purpose of elevating the posts b of the upper section out of engagement with the notched ends of the latch bars J J. whereupon the crank Z is turned for rotating the shaft K so as to re? tract the latch bars J J from the path of the sliding posts and thereafter the operating shaft E is turned to lower the section B from its raised position linto a compact relation to the section A, as shown in full lines in Fig. l.

It is thought that `the operation and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings.

Having thus fully described the invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a folding bed, the combination with a frame provided with hollow corner posts, a stationary mattress support on said frame, a second frame provided with corner posts the latter being fitted slidably within said hollow corner posts of the first frame, a movable mattress support on the second frame, a single operating shaft extending longitudinally of said bed and j ournaled on said first frame, a lplurality of divided countershafts supported on the iirst frame, one at each end of the bed, gearing connecting said countershafts to said operating shaft whereby rotation of the latter imparts motion simultaneously to said countershafts, and hoisting means operated by the countershafts for applying power simultaneously to all the corner posts ofthe second frame for raising the latter and the mattress support thereon relatively to theflrst frame and its mattress support.

2. In a folding bed, the combination with a frame provided with hollow corner posts, a stationary mattress support on said frame, a second frame provided with corner posts the latter being fitted slidably within said hollow corner posts of the first frame, a movable mattress support on the second frame, a single operating shaft extending longitudinally of said bed and journaled on said first frame, a plurality of divided countershafts supported on the first frame, one at each end of thebed, gearing connecting said countershafts to said operating shaft whereby rotation of the latter imparts motion simultaneously to said oountershafts, means operated by the countershafts and cooperating with the corner posts of the second frame for applying power to said corner posts simultaneously, locking means coperating with the corner posts of said second frame for retaining the latter in a raised position, and operating means for releasing said locking means, said operating means being independent of said longitudinal operating shaft.

3. In a folding bed, the combination with a frame embodying hollow corner posts, a stationary mattress support on said frame, a second frame embodying posts fitted slidably to the posts of the first frame, a movable mattress support carried by the second frame, a centrally longitudinally disposed operating shaftpositioned below said mattress support, hoisting means actuated from said shaft and disposed within said posts and cooperating with the corner posts of the second frame, means mounted to traverse beneath the ends of the posts of the upper frame to engage therewith to hold the said frame in its raised position, and positive geared means for simultaneously moving the last-named means in opposite directions. j 4

4;. In a folding bed, the combination ofV a frame embodying hollow corner posts connected by hollow cross members anda cen-V tral longitudinal tubular tie' member, a mattress support on said frame, a second frame provided with corner posts the latter being fitted slidably in the hollow corner' posts of the first frame,va second matt-ress support carried bythe second frame, a plurality of divided countershafts, one at each end of the bed, and incased within Vthe hollow cross members thereof, a single operating shaft incased by the longitudinal tie member of the first frame, the respective end portions of said operating shaft being gearedv to the members composing the divided countershafts for operating said countershafts simultaneously, a plurality of hoisting devices one incased by each hollow corner post of the first frame, each hoisting device being connected operatively with a corner post of the second frame and all of said hoisting devices being operated by the countershafts, and means for locking the second frame in a raised position with respect to thel first frame.

In a folding bed, the combination of a frame'providcd with hollow corner posts, a stationary mattress-support on said frame, a second frame provided with corner posts, the latter being slidable relatively to and within said hollow posts of the first frame, a second mattress-support carried by the second frame, an operating shaft extending longitudinally between the sides of the two frames, said shaft being positioned below theV two mattress-supports, counterweights independent of the hoisting device and disposed within the the corner posts of the second frame for balancing the latter,- said counterweights being incased within the corner posts, and a plurality of hoisting devices embodying flexible ligaments movable within and cooperating with. the corner posts of the second framev and being operated by the respective end portions of said longitudinally extending shaft. 6. In a folding bed of the class described, a stationary mattress support, and a movable mattress support, said-supports embodying rails whereof the rails ofthe movable supportare fitted telescopically to the rails of the stationary support for positioning the two named supports in compact relation when the bed is closed, combined with hoisting mechanism for raising andlowering the movable mattress support relatively to the stationary mattress support.

7. A folding bed embodying a stationary member, a movable member slidably fitted to said stationary member and movable vertically with respect thereto, latches positioned at the respective corners of the bod and coperating with the movable member for locking the latter in fixed relation to the stationary member, a latch shaft geared to said latches for moving them into locking engagement with said movable member an'd for retracting the latches from the path of said member, and operating means for raising and lowering` the movable member at will.

8. A folding bed embodying a stationary member, the frame of which includes channel rails for supporting a spring mattress, a movable member the frame of which includes mattress-supporting channel rails adapted to slide into the channel rails of the stationary member when the movable member is lowered into compact relation to the stationary member, means for raising and lowering the movable member relatively to the stationary member, and locking means for retaining the movable member in fixed relation to the stationary member.

9. In a folding bed, the combination of a frame embodying corner posts and hollow tie rods, a mattressesupport on said frame, a second frame embodying corner posts which are fitted telescopically to said post-s of the first frame, a second mattresssupport on the second frame, an operating shaft eX- tending centrally and longitudinally between the sides of said frames, said shaft being positioned below said mattresssupports, hoisting shafts positioned crosswise of the operating shaft, said hoisting shafts being incased within the hollow tie rods of said first frame, means for operating the hoisting shafts by said central shaft, and flexible means movably disposed Within the posts and cooperating with the hoisting shafts and with the posts of the second frame for raising or lowering the latter.

10. In a folding bed, the combination of a frame embodying corner posts and hollow cross rods and a hollow longitudinal rod, a mattress-support on said frame, a second frame provided with corner posts fitted telescopically to the corresponding posts of the first frame, a second mattress-support carried by the second frame, a single operating shaft incased within the hollow longitudinal rod of the first frame, a plurality of hoisting shafts positioned crosswise to the operating shaft, said hoisting shafts being incased within the hollow cross rods of the first frame, gearing cooperating with the operating shaft and the hoisting shafts, and flexible means movab-ly disposed within the posts and connecting the hoisting shafts with the corner posts of the second frame for raising and lowering the latter.

1l. In a tier bed, a stationary mattress support including side rails substantially U- shaped in cross section, a movable mattress support including side rails positioned for sliding movement partially within the U- shaped rails of the stationary mattress support when said movable mattress support is .lowered into compact relation to the stationary mattress support, and means for hoisting the movable mattress support with respect to the stationary mattress support.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ELIZABETH C. BROWN.

l/Vitnesses:

H. I. BERNHARD, M. C. RODRIGUEZ.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, IJ. C. 

